After a disheartening end to their Men’s Rugby Europe Championship title streak, the Lelos have regained their strength and convincingly defeated Uruguay, Samoa and Chile to climb to the top of the European-Africa table of the Nations Cup.

The arrival of Frenchman head coach Pierre-Henry Broncan has re-energised a side that is determined to get back to the pinnacle of their game ahead of next year’s Men’s Rugby World Cup.

Despite consistent winnning form since July, Exeter Chiefs’ prop Nika Abuladze is adamant that the team hasn’t fully unlocked its potential. “We won all three of our matches in the Nations Cup this summer, but we didn’t manage to show the level of rugby we wanted to.” affirmed the 31-year-old, speaking from Georgia’s training camp.

“We know we made a lot of mistakes, and there are many areas we are working on. We will keep giving it our all in training to make sure we perform at the level we want to at the Rugby World Cup.”

Abuladze, who earned his first cap for Georgia in 2021, has taken part in several iconic moments in Georgian rugby history, helping his team win a handful. of Rugby Europe Championships, defeating Wales in Cardiff and qualifying for the 2023 Men’s Rugby World Cup.

With those pivotal moments in mind, the front-rower stresses that the Lelos are focused on achieving more in the future, while recognising that progress takes time.

“It is a process, and we will do our best to develop it in the direction we want and achieve our goals. The most important thing is to keep working hard every day.”

Abuladze is one of the principal voices in Georgia’s locker room. However, his journey began later than those of most of his Lelos teammates. Indeed, he had to show admirable patience, never stopping to believe he could reach the top.

“I started playing rugby when I was 20-years-old. By that point, I was already relatively mature and had made up my mind that I wanted to take the next step. At the time, rugby was at the peak of its popularity in Georgia, with huge interest in the sport, and one of my friends was also playing. That encouraged me to give rugby a try and convinced me that I’d made the right decision.”

Having done judo for a long time, he found that the camaraderie and team environment in rugby had a major impact on his switch to the sport, and shared a story from those early days on the pitch.

“I remember breaking my nose during my third training session, but despite that, I knew exactly why I had started playing rugby. I returned to training a month later. Although the injury was not easy to deal with, it did not affect my desire to continue.”

The call-up was emotional. It was one of the happiest moments of my life. I genuinely hadn’t expected to become a member of the senior national team so soon.

Having bypassed the youth development pathway, Abuladze had to play catch-up to all the other props; however, this did not prevent him from receiving his first call-up to the national team in 2021, just five years after first picking up an oval ball.

“It came as a complete surprise.” states the front-rower.

“At the time, I was playing in the Didi 10, I didn’t have much experience, and I certainly wasn’t expecting an opportunity to play at that level. That’s why the call-up was particularly emotional. It was one of the happiest moments of my life. I genuinely hadn’t expected to become a member of the senior national team so soon.”

His debut had to wait a year, but it proved worth the wait, as he came on in the second half of a 28–19 victory over Italy in July 2022. Abuladze’s scrummaging was devastating, putting Ion Neculai through a gruelling test. Representing Georgia, however, goes beyond the sporting limits. It means so much more to him.

“Above all, it is a feeling of pride and love – love for what you do and for what it means to represent the Lelos. I believe that this feeling will never change throughout my life.” said the Exeter Chiefs loosehead.

“For me, it is much more than just a rugby shirt – it carries an enormous amount of emotion and responsibility.”

But the changes in the life of the 6ft 1in prop were only just beginning, as in 2023 he embarked on a new adventure: the Exeter Chiefs. After years in the Didi 10, Abuladze was set to play in the Gallagher Prem, a moment he had long aspired to, though it was not without its challenges.

“Initially, it was a very stressful period for me. Adjusting to a new environment, a different culture and a new way of life wasn’t easy. However, today I am certain that this move was one of the most important steps in my career.”

Abuladze reveals that the Worcester Warriors had signed him before the Chiefs swept in, but the deal was never finalised because the club was suspended from the Premiership. Thankfully, Rob Baxter pulled the strings and pushed to add the Georgian prop to the squad, with the head coach fully trusting in Abuladze from the get-go.

When a coach believes in you, it also builds your own belief in your abilities. You realise that they recognise your potential and have confidence in you.

Abuladze on Exeter Chiefs coach Rob Baxter

“I remember that I had only been there for two days and I knew that I wasn’t supposed to play in that particular match. However, one of the players got injured and, despite the fact that there were other players available in that position, the coach decided to give me the opportunity. It was a European Rugby Champions Cup knockout-stage match.”

The prop says the Chiefs staff’s faith in him was crucial to his development.

“When a coach believes in you, it also builds your own belief in your abilities. You realise that they recognise your potential and have confidence in you. So much grows with that trust – confidence, motivation and the desire to go out onto the pitch and repay it.”

Abuladze made five appearances in his first season with the Premiership side, but admits that his first few months abroad were challenging. With the support of his wife and child, however, he was able to adapt and thrive.

“My wife and child were by my side from the very first day, and that helped me enormously. When you are in a foreign country, where everything is new and you are struggling to adapt, having people around you who support you is incredibly important.”

After another strong season with the Exeter-based club, the prop had the chance to switch sides, joining Top 14 Montpellier, where he helped the club claim the 2025/2026 EPCR Challenge Cup.

Despite difficult early days with the French club, as he was still recovering from an Achilles tendon injury, Abuladze pressed on and earnt his place in the squad.

“My career in France didn’t get off to an easy start. I also struggled to adapt, and following that injury, I suffered several niggly injuries that kept getting in my way. The last two years were quite difficult for me because one problem seemed to follow another, preventing me from playing to my full potential.”

After two years in France he returned to England to rejoin the Chiefs. Having experienced both ‘worlds’, Abuladze gives his honest assessment of the differences between the two leagues.

“I think the pace of the game is higher in the Premiership. English teams place greater emphasis on attack, and the game is more dynamic. In the Top 14, set-piece plays a bigger role, matches are more physical and demanding, and teams pay particular attention to their defensive game. Both competitions have their own characteristics and offer different experiences for a player.”

Speaking about experiences, Abuladze was involved in one of the all-time greatest moments of Georgian rugby when the Lelos beat Wales in 2022 at Cardiff. The prop came on and delivered another scrummaging masterclass to help his nation secure an astonishing 13-12 win, sharing the emotions that gripped the team when the full-time whistle blew.

I think these are exactly the kind of victories Georgian rugby should be aiming for. We shouldn’t think that any opponent is beyond our reach. We must respect everyone, but fear no one.

Abuladze on beating Wales

“It is one of the most unforgettable matches in the history of Georgian rugby. Defeating Wales on their home ground, at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, in a true rugby atmosphere, in front of 63,585 spectators, was an extraordinary achievement,” the 31-year-old says.

“Before that, many people thought that achieving such a result would be almost impossible for us. But we believed in ourselves, and that was the belief we took onto the pitch.”

Abuladze remembers Luka Matkava’s penalty conversion in the tiniest detail, a moment that will live in his memory forever.

“I believe we can definitely achieve results like that again. More than that, I think these are exactly the kind of victories Georgian rugby should be aiming for. We shouldn’t think that any opponent is beyond our reach. We must respect everyone, but fear no one.”

Abuladze explaining the Lelos’ approach is always geared toward securing results and achieving new milestones, with the Nations Cup next in line.

“Our goal is to win the Nations Cup. I enjoy playing in this new competition because I respect every national team and every opponent. However, at the same time, we would like more opportunities to play against the top teams of the world and compete in traditional Test matches.”

The prop explains that rugby means a great deal to him, but he also values time away from the sport. Spending time with his family and hiking in the mountains, for example, helps him maintain a healthy balance as a professional player.

“Being with my family and going to the mountains it’s one of my favourite things to do and helps me relax. I like skiing too, but it’s risky and difficult to do when you’re a professional rugby player.”

And is his iconic moustache also part of this world beyond rugby? Or is it merely a cosmetic adornment with no deeper meaning? Abuladze reveals, first hand, what this physical detail represents in his life.

“The moustache isn’t an essential part of who I am. When I get bored with the same look, I like to change something about my appearance, and usually, that means growing a moustache!”

When the Georgian national anthem plays and you know you are about to fight for your country. You understand why you do it.

As for rugby, the prop has no problems in explaining how vital is the game for him.

“Rugby is life to me. It has taught me hard work, discipline, respect, responsibility and never to give up. It has also taught me that you cannot achieve anything alone and that teamwork helps you through the hardest moments.” states the front-row.

“Rugby has given me the chance to travel, play in different countries, meet interesting people and represent my country around the world. But most importantly, it allows me to play for Georgia. Nothing compares to that feeling.”

For him, the switch from judo to rugby was one of the greatest decisions of his life, as he found a completely new world that immediately embraced him and allowed Abuladze to represent his country at the highest level.

“When the Georgian national anthem plays and you know you are about to fight for your country. You understand why you do it. It is a great honour for me.”

Still expecting to play for several more years, Abuladze hopes his example will inspire young people to believe that hard work and self-belief can lead to remarkable and unforgettable journeys.

“I want future generations to see that hard work and dedication can make any goal achievable. It doesn’t matter where you start or when you start – what matters is how much you believe in yourself and how committed you are to working hard every single day.”

“If my example inspires even one young Georgian boy to take up rugby and represent his country, that would be a huge achievement for me.”